Tray

ABSTRACT

A tray comprises a base and a superstructure which together are shaped to simulate an object which has a diversionary or entertainment value to a child, in order to encourage the child to eat. The tray includes open topped recesses, one of which is shaped to receive solid food or a receptacle therefor, and another of which is shaped to receive and support a drinking cup.

United States Patent Nichol] July 15, 1975 TRAY 3,670,938 6/1972 Brocato 220/20 UX 2 l [76] Inventor: Craig Gordon Nichol], The Grange, 5 31 Elmbridge, DIOitWiCh, England 14 :013 12/1947 Dl5l,ll5 9/1948 [22] Flled. Jan. 10,1974 [315L659 2/l949 [21 App]. No.: 432,410 0227,2211 6/1973 Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 18, 1973 United Kingdom 2694/73 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1955 Boughton 220/20 ux 8/l97l Andrews et a1 220/20 Primary Examiner-John Petratkes Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Friedman & Goodman [57] ABSTRACT A tray comprises a base and a superstructure which together are shaped to simulate an object which has a diversionary or entertainment value to a child, in order to encourage the child to eat. The tray includes open topped recesses, one of which is shaped to re ceive solid food or a receptacle therefor, and another of which is shaped to receive and support a drinking cup. 1

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures EMEH JUL 1 5 I975 SHEET TRAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a tray for young children.

A child of an age at which it has to be fed by its parents. or its eating supervised by them. is sometimes inclined to object to or resist eating. This tendency may be overcome or reduced by concurrently providing some kind of diversion or entertainment. For example. a food bowl may be painted in a design which is interesting to the child and which may be exposed when the food is eaten.

The present invention is based on an extension ofthis concept.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention I provide a tray comprising a base and a superstructure together shaped to form or simulate an object selected to have diversionary or entertainment value to a child. said tray having horizontally spaced open-topped recesses. one of said recesses being of relatively wide and shallow dimensions and adapted to receive solid food or a receptacle therefor. and another of said recesses being relatively narrow and adapted to receive and provide stable support for a drinking cup. the dimensions of the base in plan being such as to provide stability for the tray in use.

The term object is used herein in a generic sense to describe both animate and inanimate objects such as animals, birds. or other animate beings. as well as contrivances such as ships. motor road vehicles. railway vehicles and other objects commonly forming children's toys.

Preferably substantially the entire exposed surface of the tray is an object simulating surface.

Further. the base and superstructure forming or simulating the object preferably do not include relatively movable parts and except for the drinking cup recesses are free from food retaining crevices.

When a food receptacle is provided in the relatively wide and shall recess of the tray one important advantage is that the food does not contact the material of the tray itself, and thus it is necessary to clean only the food receptacle itself unless food has been spilled over the tray. The receptacle itself may be of conventional shape.

The actual or simulated object may be of a character such that it will be shaped normally to provide the relatively wide and shallow recess existing in consequence of the function of character of the object while the drinking cup may simulate some known feature of the object.

The tray may be of a shape which can be manufactured from a plastic or like material as a moulding, the body being so shaped as to be free from undercut formations on both sides of a parting plane. This enables it to be made by a simple two-part mould.

Alternatively, the base and superstructure may be formed from a plastics material by a vacuum forming process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

The invention will now be described, by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention showing a tray in the form of a boat.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention showing a tray in the form of a cottage with a garden,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the tray of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a childs tray has a body 10, slnaped to simulate a boat. The body 10 includes a hall I] of which the stern forms a load carrying portion 12, and includes a superstructure l3 situated towards the bow end.

The load carrying portion 12 is formed with a relatively wide and shallow recess 14 indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2. The recess 14 is shaped to receive as a close fit a detachable food receptacle in the form of a dish I5. As illustrated the dish is ofgenerally rectangular shape in plan view but it would be possible to provide a dish of some other shape. e.g. circular. In either case the recess I4 is preferably itself shaped to embrace the dish eontinuously or at spaced postions therearound to ensure that the dish is securely located or held whilst in use.

The superstructure I3 is formed with a relatively narrow recess 16 to receive and provide stable support for a childs drinking cup 17. This may be ofknown design. As in the case of the dish. the recess 15 is shaped to provide stability for the cup by embracing it continuously or at spaced positions therearound. Thus the superstructure I3 extends sufficiently far up the side walls of the cup 17 to hold the same against accidental upsetting. In the position illustrated the cup simulates the funnel of the boat.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a tray has a body 20 shaped to simulate a cottage 21 having a garden 22. The garden 22 is bounded by a simulated hedge and gate 23 which together with the base or ground of the garden defines a recess 24 to receive a food receptacle in the form of a dish 25. The form of the recess 24 is. as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, selected to fit around the dish to locate or hold same against accidental upsetting.

The simulated cottage 21 is formed with a relatively narrow recess 26 to receive and stabilise drinking cup 27 conveniently simulating the chimney of the cottage.

In both embodiments the body may be made from either a ceramic or a plastics material. When a plastics material is used, the body is conveniently made by a moulding process using a two-part mould or a vacuum forming process using a single mould. When the body is to be made by a two-part mould, it is preferred that there should be no undercut formations in the body so as to permit the use of a simple two-part mould. When the body is to be made by a vacuum forming process using a single mould, an undercut formation of limited size can be tolerated in the body.

The recesses 14, 16, 24, 26 in the body are formed with substantially smooth surfaces, and the whole of the body without crevices or sharp angles, such that removal of any food or liquid which should become spilled is made easy. Although a separate food recepta cle is illustrated in position in the body, it would of course be possible to place food directly in the recess. In this case formation of the recess to avoid presentation of crevices or sharp angles is even more desirable to facilitate cleaning.

In both the embodiments illustrated the bodies are of such a shape as to provide a base of relative large pcripheral area such that. when placed upon a surface. the tray has a degree of stability which makes it unlikely to be overturned or upset by the child.

It will be appreciated that the object which is simulated is of a character such that it is normally shaped to provide a recess and a projection which is capable of being simulated by a drinking cup. Thus. the modelling of the object to incorporate a recess for receiving food or a dish and a recess receiving the cup does not involve too great a departure from the general character or appearance of the object. The interest of a child is thus better maintained whilst eating.

The other objects which may be selected as the subject of the tray are:-

a. railway locomotive and tender with drinking cup simulating the locomotive funnel and tender affording the wide shallow recess.

b. bird. such as an owl. and nest with the drinking cup simulating part of the bird and the nest affording the wide shallow recess.

c. boot with the drinking cup simulating the ankle portion and the toe portion hollowed out in its upper surface to afford the wide sgallow recess.

d. fort with drinking cupsimulating'a tower and the courtyard affording the wide shallow recess.

e. Father Christmas and sleigh with the drinking cup simulating part of the Father Christmas figure and the sleigh affording the wide shallow recess.

I claim:

l. A tray comprising a base having dimensions in plan sueh to enable the tray to stand stably on a surface. and a superstructure. the base and superstructure together being shaped to form or simulate an object having entertainment value to a child, said tray having horizontally spaced open top recesses, one of said recesses being of relatively wide and shallow dimensions and adapted to receive solid food or a receptacle therefor, and another of said recesses being relatively narrow and adapted to receive and provide stable support for a drinking cup, the actual or simulated object being of a character such that it is shaped normally to provide the relatively wide and shallow recess in consequence of its functional character, and the drinking cup simulates a known feature of the object.

2. A tray according to claim 1 wherein substantially the entire exposed surface of the tray is an object simulating surface.

3. A tray according to claim 1 when the object simulated is a boat and a drinking cup simulating a funnel of the boat. 7

4. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the object simulated is a cottage having a garden, and the drinking cup when in position simulates a chimney of the cottage.

5. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the base and the superstructure are formed from a ceramics material.

6. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the base and superstructure are formed as a moulding of a plastics material. and are so shaped as to be free of undercut formations on each side of a parting plane. 

1. A tray comprising a base having dimensions in plan such as to enable the tray to stand stably on a surface, and a superstructure, the base and superstructure together being shaped to form or simulate an object having entertainment value to a child, said tray having horizontally spaced open top recesses, one of said recesses being of relatively wide and shallow dimensions and adapted to receive solid food or a receptacle therefor, and another of said recesses being relatively narrow and adapted to receive and provide stable support for a drinking cup, the actual or simulated object being of a character such that it is shaped normally to provide the relatively wide and shallow recess in consequence of its functional character, and the drinking cup simulates a known feature of the object.
 2. A tray according to claim 1 wherein substantially the entire exposed surface of the tray is an object simulating surface.
 3. A tray according to claim 1 when the object simulated is a boat and a drinking cup simulating a funnel of the boat.
 4. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the object simulated is a cottage having a garden, and the drinking cup when in position simulates a chimney of the cottage.
 5. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the base and the superstructure are formed from a ceramics material.
 6. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the base and superstructure are formed as a moulding of a plastics material, and are so shaped as to be free of undercut formations on each side of a parting plane. 